US2641162A - Gun barrel cooling means - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1953 `c. E. BALLElsEN 2,641,162

GUN BARREL COOLING MEANS Charla Bullei .5B1-L June 9, 1953 c. E. BALLElsEN 2,541,162

GUN BARREL COOLING MEANS Filed Feb. 4, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 9, 1953 c. E. BALLElsEN 2,641,152

GUN BARREL COOLING MEANS Filed Feb. 4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i Eiglmgmc/who@ Chur'le s E- Bull Ei .sen

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Patented June 9, 1953 GUN BARREL COOLING MEANS Charles E. Balleisen, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of War Application February 4, 1942, Serial No. 429,496 1o claims.Y (C1. sia-14.1)

(Granted under Title 35, U. s. code 1952),

" sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

`|This invention relates to means for introducing `fluid into the interior portions of the barrel of a firearm.,

An object oi this invention is to provide means for jecting uid into the barrel ot an automatic firearm immediately after each round of ammnitionis ered.

' Another object of this invention is to provide a compact valve, especially adapted to be used with a firearm for introducing a predetermined amount of uid into the barrel of an automatic firearm immediately after each round of ammunition is iired.

Another `object of this invention is to provide means for injecting cooling fluidinto the barrel ofr an automatic r'earm in such a quantity that thecooling fiuid which may be water, flashes into the gaseous state'and maintains the barrel at a safe operating temperature.

ThisH invention has speciiic application to a barrel of .50 caliber but it is understood that this invention may be applied to barrels of greater and smaller caliber. Suiiicient fluid, preferably water, isy introduced in the gun barrel so as to maintain the final steady state temperature of the gun barrel under continuous operation at approximately 300 F. when the gun is operated continuously; however, this temperature may be subject to variation and the only apparent'limitation on that temperature appears to, be based on the following considerations; that at the higher range the temperature should not be destructive to the barrel material and at the lower range the temperature should be high enoughA to vaporize the cooling iiuid which is introduced.

In the cooling of automatic guns by the particular means disclosed herein it is fundamental to realize' that the valve for introducing the fluid into 'the gun barrel should be cap-able of being placed in those positions where the introduction of uid will produce the greatest cooling effect. Since the time available for injection of the fluid into the barrel between rounds is approximately .02 second and since a few cubic centimeters of water must be introduced into the barrel of a .50 cal. gun in that short period of time, it follows that a quick responsive valve is necessary and that it should be so positionedl on the gun barrel that one or more conduits through the barrel Wall will not seriously alter the mechanical strength of the barrel.

In general, there are four methods of operating an inlet valve for the injection of a cooling liquid into a barrel of an automatic-gun during the period of ammunition extracting and loading. These four methods may be classined as follows:

1. Recoil 2. High pressure 3. Low pressure (muzzle) gas` 4. Bullet or muzzle blast The fourth method is generally dismissed as being inferior to the others. Means are disclosed herein for carrying out any one of the iirst three methods. n

The rst three methods outlined above are beset with advantages and disadvantages. In general, the recoil method hasl the following advantages: (1) mechanical motion is directly available, (A2) mechanism is simple, and (3,) there is an irmerent controlled time delay; the disadvantages are as follows: (l) the operating reserve ofthe gun is reduced, and (2) there is a danger of flooding the barrel before ring,

In general, the second method incorporating high pressure gas has the following advantages: (1) the mechanism is simple, and (2) there is no appreciable energy extracted from the gun; the disadvantages are as follows: (1) mechanical motion must be produced, (2) a time delay must be provided, and"(3) an adequate seal preventing the loss of gas must be` provided.

In general, the third method incorporating low pressure gas has the following advantages: (l) no appreciable energy is extracted from the gun, and (2A)` an inherent time delay is introduced; the disadvantage is as follows: (l) the mechanisrn is complicated. n

'Irhe specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in 'the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a Browning automatic machine gun with a fluid valve and its actuating mechanism mounted thereon. The breech bolt E of the gun is in its furthermost rear position and correspondingly the iiuid valve allows passage of fluid;

Fig, '21 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isv an end View of the fluid valve and its actuating mechanism taken substantially on line 3--3 oflFi-g. 2;v the pertinent portions ofthe rearm are shown dotted;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on, une 4f-i of; 3 z

Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion of a gun barrel with a fluid valve housed therein; the valve is adapted to be actuated by pressure developed in the barrel bore synchronously with the rate of fire' of, for example, a Browning machine gun;

Fig. 6 is a section through the iiuid valve and barrel taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; the valve is shown in its normal position or furthermost down position;

Fig. '7 is a section similar'to the section of Fig. 6 but in this instance the cup shaped valve member I3 has been displaced from its normal position up to its highest position vduetojammunition gas pressure on the bottom of cup shaped member |3;

Fig. 8 is a section similar yto 't theV section:- of Fig. 6 but in this instance the cup shaped valve member I3 has receded from its highest position of Fig. '7 to the position shown wherein cooling fluid may flow from channel I8 or I9 into the barrel bore;

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially through the bottom of the cup shaped member on line 0 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 1) is a longitudinal section taken substantially through the center of the barrel and through the center of valve actuating mechanism which is responsive to ammunition gas pressure at the muzzle of the iirearm. The mechanism in this instance is shown in its most forward position;

Fig. 11 is a section similar to the section of Fig. but in this instance the valve mechanism is lin its extreme rear position corresponding to Valve opening position;

Fig. 12 is a section taken substantially on line |2|2of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is an end view taken substantially on the direction of line |3-I3 of Fig. 11.

Figures 1-4 relates to a valve operated in accordance with method I listed above, i. e. by the motion of one of the gun parts which moves due to recoil forces imparted thereto. The particular mechanism shown in these figures has special application to a Browning machine gun of the type disclosed in the Browning Patents 1,293,021 and 1,628,226 and is particularly designedA to be installed on those guns. It is understood, however, that this particular type of valve operating mechanism may be applied to other guns having parts which move in recoil. The elements disclosed in Figures -14 are given the same reference numerals as those ascribed to corresponding elements inthe Browning Patent 1,293,021 and reference is had to the disclosure in that patent; it is'understood that the operation of the Browning machine gun as disclosed in that patent is well known since that particular gun has found universal use, especially in the United States. The parts added to the Browning Inachine gun in order to carry out this aspect of my invention are given reference numerals greater than 100.

A nozzle |0| with an integrally formed valve housing |02 is centrally and stationarily mounted between the side plates a, a of the gun by means of screws ||0 (Fig. 3) and arms such that the nozzle is in the vertical plane with the gun bore and directed so as to guide a .iet of cooling fluid into thecartridge receiving charnber barrel B. The arms |||v and screws ||0 are, of course. arranged so as to not interfere with the normal operation of the gun.l p Y The valve housing |02 is formedffrom a solid .nozzle 0 I cylindrical block and has a hole |04 (Fig. 1) therethrough in line with the hole in nozzle |0| and the high pressure supply conduit or passage |03, and also a hole |05 (Fig. 3) therethrough having its axis Substantially perpendicular to the axis of hole |04. Axially movable rod or closure member |06 with reduced section or portion |09 passes through hole |05 and is adapted to normally allow the iiow of cooling fluid from conduit |03 to nozzle |0| due to the biasing action o1. spring |0'I which is mounted between housing |02vr and a flange |08 on the end of rod |06; when the rod |06 is moved to the right (Fig. 3) by means to be discussed later, the reduced portion |09 of rod |05 is moved out of its normal aligned position'with hole |04 and iiuid is then prevented from passing from supply conduit |03 to the Rod or closure member |06 is moved to the right (Fig. 3) due to movement of the breech bolt E because of the interconnecting members: cam member ||5, lever ||6, pivot rod |I-1l and lever ||8. Cam member ||5 projecting through slot |22 in one of the side plates a is adapted to contact thev upper right hand corner of the breech bolt E. (Fig. 3) and tobe moved to the right as the bolt moves to the breech closing position; this movement of cam member 'I |5 causes levers H6, ||8, which are rigidly connected to pivot rod ||'I, to rotate and to move the valve rod |06 to the right (Fig. 3). Shoulder I |6s on arm I6 provides a stop for movement of cam |5 relative to plate a. Y

When the cam ||5 is in its furthermost right position with reference to Fig. 3 the flow of fluid to the barrel chamber B is prevented. The time during which the iiuid valve is in open position as related to the movement of the breech bolt E is indicated by the limits |20, |2| (Fig. 2); it

. is understood that fluid is allowed to be projected into the barrel chamber when the forward edge of the breech bolt E is on or between the limits of |20, |2|. Spring |01is placed under compression so that shoulder |68 on arm ||6 positively abuts against side plate a when the bolt E is on or between the limits |20, 2 Arms I6, I8 are made suiiiciently long to bring about the above described operation and also so that the pivotl rod is carried forward sufficiently to clear operating parts of the gun. A bearing block |30 for rod |'I is secured to the right side plate a of the gun by means similar to screws I3 Collar |32 on rod ||1 abuts against the bearing block I 30 so as to support some of the weight of the mechanism. v

It is thus seen from Figs. 1 and 2 that cooling fiuid is injected into the gun barrel B so long as the breech bolt E is in open position and is retracted sufficiently to allow the tip |25 of an ammunition round to clear the chamber of barrel B, i. e., the clearance between the round tip |25 and chamber of barrel B is somewhat greater than the distance between limits |20, |2|.

A valve adapted to be incorporated in a high pressure gas system described as method 2 is shown in Figs. 5-9. The valve described in these figures has an inherent time delay therein and seals well against loss of gas from the barrel B. The valve proper does not project beyond the normal cylindrical confines of thebarrel and the working parts thereof are confined by the wedge shaped member I0, which fits into a cooperating groove in the barrel B. The'valve consists essentially of a spring |2, a cup-shaped member or valve I3 havingr three ports i3d` |317, |3c therein, and a ring or check I4 which is frictionally held by the surrounding interior cylindrical wall I5, of the barrel B. Ring I4 may partake of an oversized split resilient ring such as a conventional automobile piston ring. Ring I4 is moved bythe cooperating shoulders I3e, I3f on the cup-shaped member I3 as it, moves up and down in the barrelfhollow portion or valve chamber I6 due to the gas pressure within the bore I'I of barrel B or due to the action of compression spring AI 2,

Cooling fluid, for instance water, under high pressure of approximatelyV sixty pounds per square inch, is' introduced into the barrel bore I1 through barrel channels or pair of passages and I9, channels I3a, i312, I3c and barrel channel 2i). Channels I3a, |317, I3c have the common centrally disposed channel I3d in communication therewith.

VIn the normal position, Fig. 6, the channels I8, i8 are closed by frictionally held ring I4 so that` no cooling fluid flows into the barrel. When a shell is fired a large pressure will be built up in the barrel bore I1 causing the cup-shaped member I3 to move upward against the action of spring I2 and causing shoulder I3f to engage ring I4; further movement of member I3 will cause displacement ofring I4 and place shoulder (3j in a position where it seals barrel ports I8, I9.. Thus, no fluid will flow into the barrel as the cup-shaped member I3 moves upward to its I highest position shown in Fig. 7 As cup-shaped member I3 moves downward from its highest position due to loss of pressure caused by the emergence of the fired projectile from the barrel and due to the action of compression spring l2, ring I4, which is frictionally held by barrel wall I5, will remain stationary and cooling liquid will flow from barrel channels I8, I9 to the barrel lriore I1 (Fig. 8). Further downward movement of cup-shaped member I3 wil1 cause shoulder I3e to engage ring I4 and bring it into the port closing position shown in Fig. 6. The elasticity of spring I2 and the amount of friction between ring I4 and barrel wall I5 will determine to a large extent the time delay involved before cooling fluid may be injected into barrel bore II.

It is preferred to inject the cooling iiuid into the barrel bore after the cartridge shell is eX- tracted from the barrel bore and before a new cartridge is inserted into the bore; in that case the time for fluid flow is approximately .02 second. The appropriate time delay and time during which cooling fluid ows may be subjected to wide variation by the particular design of the spring |22, cup-,shaped member I3, and frictionally held ring lll. l

A mechanism adapted to be incorporated in a low pressure gas operated system, for instance, a mechanism operated by the muzzle gases of a gun, is shown in Figs. 10-l3.

In the above mentioned figures the flow of cooling fluid follows the following path: from a source of pressure (not shown) of approximately 75 pounds per square inch through inlet or passage a in valve housing 3, valve chamber 3| channels 32a., 32h, 32o in the movable portion 32 of the gas operated valve, port 33 in the valve housing 30, and then through barrel opening 34 into the bore 35 of the barrel 3S.

Movable portion 32 of the valve is normally biased in its closed position by means of compression spring 3'! and is moved to its open position when muzzle gas pressure acts on piston 38.

Nut 39 serves to coni-lne the biasing spring 3l in the valve housing as well as to jam the op- @site fend Of Sleeve. 4l? ascii-1st Packing 4l :S0 as. to prevent fluid leakage past the iiteriorcylind ricaly wall of the integrally formed shankv or valve closure: me'niber`32f which abuts against the free end of spring 31.

VNut 42 and packing 43 serve to prevent fluid lealgage'outfof the valve housing 30 at the place Where piston rod 38 emerges fromnth'eV valve housing.`

vThe piston chamber 44 for piston 38 is formed in a substantially cylindrical block 50 which has a tapered portion 4.5screw`able'on the end of barrel 3Q, a hole 4t in alignment with the barrel bore, and a tapped portion 41 in alignment with thepiston chamber 44 for the reception of plug at. The cylindrical biockso is screwame' on barrel t'to such anextent that a clearance 5I is provided between vthe. Vend ofthe barrel and the cylindrical 'block 50,'. Muzz'le gases due to the burning of the ammunition in the' gunV flow through the clearance 5I Vinto the piston chamber 44. A pin 52 which passes through cooperative grooves in the barrel and cylindrical block' maintains those two elements in xed position.

The piston 38 may be provided with a ring or packing 53 so as toprevent loss of pressure past the outer wall of the. piston.

The integrally formed valve rnd spring housing 3Q maybe fastenedv to the barrel 36 by'ineans oscrews 54, by welding or other similar means.

In al1 three arrangements disclosed herein a predetermined quantity of vaporizable fluid is injected into the gun barrel, the exactV amount being determined by the applied fluid pressure,

. size of orifices leading into Vthe barrel 'and the timeinterval during which the'particula'r valve is open. Since the last two mentioned factors are fixed to a certain degree the most convenient manner in which the exact amount of fluid may lv be injected inthe gun barrel resides in controlling fiuid pressure by means well understood.

Iclaim:

1. A cooling arrangement for a gun having a barrel, means forming a' fluid passage in the barrel leading to the barrel bore, said barrel having a circular hollow portion therein in communication with the fluid passage, a spring biased member in said hollow portion and responsive 'to barrel gas pressure, a pair of spaced shoulders on the member, a ring frictionally engaging the walls defining the hollow portion and adapted to close said passage, said ring being disposed between said shoulders.

2. The'same as in claim 1 characterized in that the spring biased member is within the normal confines of the barrel, and a wedge having a tongue and groove connection with the barrel -for maintaining said member in thel barrel.

3. A cooling arrangement for a gun, said cooling arrangement comprising a barrel formed with a passage therethrough communicating with the bore of said barrel for admitting fluid under pressure to said bore, a valve device slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within a valve chamber intercepting said passage, said valve device in said chamber constructed and arranged to be moved away from said bore'by gas pressure within said bore while maintaining said passage intercepted, and a spring within said barrel for moving said valve device toward the bore and into passage-opening position upon subsidence of the gas pressure within said bore.

4. A cooling arrangement for a gun, said cooling arrangement comprising a barrel formed with a passage therethrough communicating with the 7 bore for admitting iiuid under pressurey to said bore, said barrel having a valve chamber intercepting said passage, a spring biased valve member in said chamber havingla uid passage therethrough and operable by the barrel gas pressure, and a second member surrounding theiirst mentioned member and frictionally held between the said first member and the wall of said chamber and moved by said valve member toward the bore and into position opening said passage to iiow ofv fluid to the bore of the barrel upon the subsidence of the gas pressure in the bore.

5. In combination with the barrel of an automatic rapid re gun, ysaid barrel having a bore, a chambery formed in the wall of said barrel, there being al first passage in said wall adapted to connect said chamber with a source of pressure fluid, there also being a second passage in said barrel from said chamber to said bore, and valve means in said chamber normally intercepting communication between said passages and responsive tcfchange in gas pressure in said bore transmitted throughr said second passage, to connect said first and second passages after a cartridge has been fired and before the next cartridge has been inserted into said barrel;

6. Incombination with a gun barrel having an a ltion and then to cut 01T said communication.

7. In a cooling devicek for a gun barrel, said barrel having a valve chamber and first and second passages leading, respectively, from4 a vsource of pressure fluid to said chamber and from said chamber to the boreof said barrel, a valve movable in said chamber from a rst position to a second position, said valve having a port adapted to place Asaid first and second passages in communication, said valve being adapted to be moved to said second position by gas pressure in said bore, spring means urging said valve to said first position, and check means moved by and in respense to movement of said valve to cut off communication between said passages exceptv only while said valve, ismoving from said second to said first position.

"8. In a cooling device for a gun barrel having a valve chamber and first and second passages leading respectively, from a source of pressure fluid to said chamber, and from said chamber to the bore of said barrel, a valve slidable in said chamber between Ifirst and second positions and having a port adapted to-place said passages in communication, means urging said Valve into said rst position, said valve being moved to said second position by and in response to gas pressure in said bore, and a check slidably associated with said valve and coacting therewith and movable thereby, to cut oi` said first passage from said port when said valve is moving from said first to said second position, and to open said first passage to said port when said valve is moving from said second to said rst position.

9. In a system for the fluid cooling of a gun barrel, a cylindrical valve chamber associated with said barrel, there being a first passage adapted to connect said chamber with a source of pressure iiuid and a second passage connecting said chamber With the bore of said barrel, a piston valve reciprocably fitting said chamber and having a ported circumferential channel adapted to connect said passages, said valve being4 movable by gas pressure in said bore from a rst to a second position, spring means urging said piston into said first position, and a check ring fitting said channel and frictionally engaging the walls of said chamber, said ring being reciprocable on and moved by, said piston with lost motion and cutting oir said first passage from said second passage when said Valve is moving to'said second position and clearing connection between said passages when sai-d piston is moving toward said first position under the action ofsaid spring means. I

l0. In a liquid cooling system for a gun barrel having a cylindrical valve" chamber formed in its Wallja rst passage extending from the Wall o f said chamber substantially midway of its length and adapted to communicate with a source of cooling liquid under pressure, and a second passage extending from one end of said'chainber to the bore of said barrel, said system comprising, a piston valve reciprocably fitting said chamber and having a circumferential channel in its periphery, ported for communication with said second passage, said piston valve being movable by gas pressure in said bore from a first position in which said channel is in agreement with said `first'pas'sage'to a second position in which said piston' valve partly cuts off said iirst passage, a ring tting and having lost motion within said channel and frictionally engaging the wall of 'sai-d chamber, said ring and piston valve coacting `to cut off said first passage when said valve is in said second position, and spring means urging said valve to said rst position whereby' on decrease in gas pressure in said bore, said valve iirst opens said first passage to communication with said second passage and thereafter moves said ring to cut 01T said communication.

CHARLES E. BAILEISEN.

References cited yin the nie cf this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 543,567 Browning July 30, 1895 783,050 Knapp et al. Feb.- 21,1905 789,687 Edwards et al. May 9, 1905 797,237 Y smith Aug. 15, 1905 799,884 Von Augezd Sept.` 19, 1905 940,101 Wetzel Nov. 16, 1909 1,064,197 Dawson et ai. June 1o, 1913 1,073,298 smith sept. '16, i913

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